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If youâre reading this, you likely understand the importance of good content. You know the formula: valuable content = influence = social reach = traffic = more reach⌠and so on. But do you know the secret to great content?
As marketers, we often look for the next big tool to differentiate ourselves. But did you know the most powerful content-creative tool was invented long before social media? It doesnât involve keeping a Kodak Zi8 in your pocket, either. And you donât need a fancy new Twitter strategy or some snazzy FBML.
The most powerful content tool is also the oldest. Itâs the tool that brought us some of the most compelling moments in historyâfrom fallen leaders to pop-culture confessions. Itâs the tool that made Oprah arguably one of the most powerful brands on the planet. And the same one that Barbara Walters used to reach the most influential people of our time.
Your Content Advantage: The Interview
Yes, the interview. Powerful interviews create timeless content. Yet when it comes to blogging, we neglect to use our most powerful weapons. Master blog interview tactics and your content will surely make an impactâin any situation.
Famous rocker Glenn Danzig once said, âunfortunately, I have to say, one out of every 100 interviews I do, I get a real journalist.â So whether you write for yourself, your boss, a client or an industry analyst, leave the impression of a professional. Blog interviewing is a must-learn tactic.
Interviews can be recrafted into unique blog posts. The trick is asking the right questions.
Here are 11 lines of questioning you can use to extract great material:
#1: Informational Post
Q: What are the three biggest benefits to your target audience and why?
Many writers mistakenly focus on whiz-bang features, measures or accomplishments, but readers often have difficulty relating to these. By focusing on benefits, you push the interview subject to think outside of features and bells and whistles. Benefits are far more persuasive than features, and they are well-received by a larger audience.
#2: The Numbered List
Q: What are the [insert #] top questions asked by your [customers, readers, followers]? What are [#] more?
By using a two-part question, you force the subject to rank the priority of each itemâspace is limited. The second part of the question allows you to open it up, but youâll know the items that really matter in your subjectâs mind. Prioritized lists are important because many readers judge the value of your post by the first few items.
#3: The Mini Case Study
Q: Tell me about a day in your lifeâbefore and after the solution you chose.
By asking the subject to speak about his or her life, in personal rather than business terms, youâll better extract how quality of life or work was improved. This leads to deeper and more unique follow-up questions and a strong emotional connection to your audience.
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#4: Link or Resource Round-Ups
Q: If you had a list of âbest-kept secretsâ [websites, books, coaches] youâd recommend, which would you include and why?
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By asking for resources outside the mainstream, youâre likely to get a round-up thatâs far more unique than other round-up blogs that mention the same mainstream thing.
#5: Expert Guide
Q: What tips can you recommend that youâd only share with a close friend (and everyone reading this blog)?
This line of questioning will force the subject to think outside the box. The subject benefits because he or she becomes even more of an expert, while your readers will be all but guaranteed unique content.
#6: Common Pitfalls or Problems
Q: What are three hard-to-spot pitfalls that are critical to avoid?
Even people who have moderate knowledge of a topic know about obvious pitfalls. Focusing on the most difficult hurdles to spot will make you a hero in the eyes of the people you save.
#7: Predictions or Trends
Q: Looking out 3 to 5 years, beyond the obvious trends, what do you think will be the next big change in your industry?
If you focus more than a year or two in the future, youâll push your subject to stay away from the obvious. Example: If youâre a marketer, you donât get much value from your subject telling you that social media will be huge next year.
#8: Response to Another Blog or Current Event
Q: When you first read that [article, blog post, comic, etc.], what was your gut reaction
This phrasing gives the subject psychological permission to tell you his or her honest opinion and not necessarily the prepared one.
#9: Inspirational Post or Client Story
Q: What are three things youâve told yourself that kept you going during your darkest hour?
This question immediately turns the interview subject from an interviewee into a coach and sage. Youâll be surprised at how this single powerful question can literally transform an entire interview.
#10: Personal Profile or Biographical Q&A
Q: What are three life memories you recall most frequently and why?
The memories we recall most are often the ones that have had the biggest impact on our lives. Youâll likely learn a lot about your subject by following this line of questioning.
#11: Product, Service or Book Review
Q: What was the most difficult thing you decided to exclude from this review and what was your reasoning?
This question opens the interview subject up to a discussion about some of the things that may have been important but were not included for a variety of reasons. External factors like time, space, politics or other issues often donât let reviewers include everything theyâd like.
These eleven questions can help you craft great content for your blog. By interviewing, youâll generate content that gives you tremendous reach.
Iâd like to hear from you. What other lines of questioning have you used to enhance your blogging? Feel free to add your own in the comments below.
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